Overview

In a period of political uncertainty and geopolitical volatility, with populism and nationalism on the rise, it is obvious that EU needs to update its agenda in critical issues such as collective security and economic and political cohesion between its northern, southern and eastern member states. An inclusive growth strategy, based on innovation, investment and reforms that reduce inequalities, shall be a priority for the years ahead.

What is the role of the SE Europe countries in this strategy?

What lessons can be drawn from other European regions in fields such as innovation and investment?

And how could the defence industry contribute to a stable, united and prosperous Europe?

The Economist Events have great pleasure in announcing the organisation of a special event entitled “SEEKING SECURITY COHERENCE FOR GROWTH AND PROSPERITY - A pillar for Europe’s stability”, which is scheduled to take place at the Sofia Hotel Balkan on November 12th 2018.

Speakers

Renée Friedman

Managing editor, EMEA, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Renée Friedman

Managing editor, EMEA, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Renée Friedman is a managing editor for EMEA for the Economist Group. Her work focuses on Thought leadership programmes for the financial services sector.

Prior to joining the Economist Group, Renée worked in a variety of roles: in Economic and Political risk consulting, in finance in the City of London as an Economist, a Macro strategist and a Bond fund manager, in the international and UK policy spheres as an Economist to the Treasury Select Committee at the House of Commons and as Senior Economist and Chief Technical Advisor for the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, and as an academic, designing and teaching economics courses at universities across London.

Renée has spoken on a variety of panels and events focused on Russia, Ukraine and other emerging market economies as well as on developments in the financial services sector including those for The Economist Group, BNE Intellinews, IHS Global Insight, and for the UNDP. She has also appeared on CNBC.

Renée holds a PhD in Economics from London Business School, a Masters in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Birmingham (UK), and a Bachelors in International trade and development from the London School of Economics & Political Science.

Elżbieta Bieńkowska

Elżbieta Bieńkowska

Elżbieta Bieńkowska -since November 1st 2014- EU commissioner for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs in the European Commission of Jean-Claude Juncker.

Between 2007 and 2013 she was the minister for regional development of Poland and from 2013 to 2014, the deputy prime minister and the minister of regional development and infrastructure of

Poland. As deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure and development she was in charge of the strategic development system of the country, including the effective investment of the European funds. Her work resulted in the full absorption of the EU funds from the budget for 2004-06 and the successful distribution of almost EUR 68 billion granted to Poland for the years 2007-13. She was managing the process of the preparation of the efficient EU funds implementation system from the EU budget for the years 2014-20.

Apart from the European funds her tasks in the Polish Government included also the management of transport infrastructure (roads, railway, air traffic and ship transport) and issues related to

construction and housing. Before from 1999 to 2007 she was working for the local government of the Silesia Region in Southern Poland. A graduate of the Jagiellonian University. She also graduated from the Polish National School of Public Administration and completed the business administration post graduate studies at the Warsaw School of Economics.

Married, with three children.

Håkan Buskhe

President and CEO, SAAB AB

Håkan Buskhe

President and CEO, SAAB AB

Håkan Buskhe is the president and CEO of the Swedish defence and security company Saab AB. Mr Buskhe took up his position in 2010. Mr Buskhe brings to Saab more than 20 years of experience in programme and operations management and business development from national and international commercial industries. Most recently, he served as the president and CEO of E.ON Nordic AB and E.ON Sverige AB.

Before entering into the energy business, Mr Buskhe had a long experience of the fast moving Transport and Logistics Business. Among other things, Mr Buskhe was responsible for Schenker in Europe. Several years as Head of Production at the Falcon Brewery made him an expert in beer.

Since 2015, he has been member of the board of Nefab, a provider of packaging solutions. During 2017, he became vice-chairman of the board of ASD - AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe. Previously, he was member of the Board of Vattenfall and chairman of the board of the transportation company Green Cargo AB, and also served as chairman of the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant.

As a result of his military service as armament technician, he gained experience of different armament systems today related to Saab (Bofors, AA40/48, RBS70 etc).

Mr Buskhe holds a Master of Science from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg and graduated as Licentiate of Transportation and Logistics.

Mr Håkan Buskhe was born in 1963 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. He currently resides in Stockholm and Falkenberg, Sweden. He is married and has three daughters.

Emil Eftimov

Deputy chief of defence, Ministry of Defence, Bulgaria

Emil Eftimov

Deputy chief of defence, Ministry of Defence, Bulgaria

Vice-admiral Emil Eftimov was born in Varna, on August 16th 1961. He studied in “Nikola Vaptsarov” Naval Academy from 1979 to 1984 at the end of which he was promoted second lieutenant. As a lieutenant commander VADM Eftimov graduated from “N.G.Kuznetsov” Naval Academy, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation (1992-94) and in 2004-05 he completed leadership training in US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. In 2012 he also graduated from the Senior Officers Course, NATO School Oberammergau, Germany and the Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course, NATO Defense College, Italy.

During his career VADM Eftimov has gone through different operational and staff duty tours, starting as a navigation officer and eventually becoming frigate commanding officer (1991-92). After graduating the Naval Academy of the Russian Federation he assumed consecutively the positions of anti-submarine officer in Patrol Ships Squadron, chief of staff of 1st Patrol Ships Squadron, Varna Naval Base and deputy chief of staff and chief of operational and combat training section, Varna Naval Base (2000-01). While commanding the 1st Patrol Ships Squadron, Varna Naval Base (2001-03), VADM Eftimov was assigned chief of staff of the BLACKSEAFOR (2002) and in 2003 he became deputy commander of Varna Naval Base for one year during which he was responsible for force training. Following VADM Eftimov’s assignment as primary adviser to the chief of naval operations (Navy HQ) on regional military cooperation (2005-06) he assumed the duties of chief of staff, Varna Naval Base (2006-09) and commander of Varna Naval Base (2009-11). Before being promoted vice-admiral (in May 2016) and becoming deputy chief of defence (in July 2016) VADM Eftimov added more NATO leadership experience to his professional background as assistant director, cooperation and regional security division, International Military Staff, NATO HQ, Brussels, Belgium (2011-13) and then as director of the same IMS division (2013-16).

Vice Admiral Eftimov has been awarded with various national awards and decorations among which the Ministry of Defence Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service under the Colours and “St. George the Victor” Medal of Honour in recognition of his distinguished service and professional achievements.

Vice Admiral Eftimov is fluent in English and Russian. He is married to Ginka and they have two children.

Olli Isotalo

President and CEO, Patria Oyj

Olli Isotalo

President and CEO, Patria Oyj

Olli Isotalo is president and CEO of Patria Oyj, since 2016. His experience in managing large multinational companies is well known. Since 2006, he has been member of the Cargotec’s executive board for about 10 years.

He has been president of many leading technology companies, like the industry forerunner in port automation and energy-efficient cargo handling Kalmar (part of Cargotec), one of the leading companies in engineering innovations MacGregor, as well as the major supplier of crane spreaders Bromma among others.

In the course of his professional career Olli Isotalo has been acting in key positions. He has been chairman of the board of Nammo AS, Millog Oy, chairman of the Association of the Finnish Defence and Aero Space Industries, as well as member of the board of the Technology Industries of Finland.

Olli Isotalo has graduated the Tempera University of Technology as M.Sc. in engineering.

Mikhail Kostarakos

Former chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff & former chairman of the EU Military Committee (CEUMC)

Mikhail Kostarakos

Former chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff & former chairman of the EU Military Committee (CEUMC)

General Mikhail Kostarakos is the permanent chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC).

He has been selected by the Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) of the 28 EU Member States and appointed to the post by the council. He entered his office on 6 November 2015 taking over from Gen. Patrick de Rousiers.

General Kostarakos leads the works of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) and liaises with the presidency in the development and implementation of its work programme.

He is the military adviser to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on all military matters and represents the primary point of contact with the operation commanders of the EU's military operations.

General Kostarakos is the spokesman and representative of the EU Military Committee at the meetings of the Political Security Committee (PSC). He also attends the meetings of the Council when decisions with defence implications are to be taken.

Andrea Nappi

Vice-president, Eurofighter Export Fighters, Italy

Andrea Nappi

Vice-president, Eurofighter Export Fighters, Italy

Born in Rimini (Italy) in 1958, Andrea Nappi graduated in chemical engineering from Politecnico di Torino in 1981 and obtained an MASc degree from the University of Waterloo (Canada) in 1983. Since 1985 he has been employed in the Leonardo Aircraft Division, formerly Aeritalia and Alenia Aermacchi, in the engineering department with responsibilities in aerodynamic design, low observable technologies and chief engineering role in the Harrier AV-8B programme and eventually the Eurofighter Typhoon.

In 1998 he joined the Eurofighter GmbH Agency in Munich (Germany) as deputy technical director with technical responsibility of the Typhoon programme. In 2002 he returned to Alenia Aermacchi as commercial manager for the Military Aircraft Department with responsibilities on Typhoon, Tornado and AM-X. Eventually he was nominated commercial and programme director for these products and was also responsible for the marketing activities related to the Eurofighter Typhoon.

In 2013 Andrea Nappi returned to Eurofighter GmbH as technical director with responsibility on design, production and logistic support. Since 2016 he has been covering the position of the vice-president of Eurofighter Export within the Leonardo Aircraft Division organization. In his current role Andrea Nappi is responsible for all the export campaigns of Leonardo responsibility, namely Bulgaria, Poland and Egypt, and for the support activities to the other programme partner companies (BAES and Airbus) for the export campaigns of their responsibility.

Zoya Paunova

Country director, AstraZeneca Bulgaria, honorary general consul of Sweden, Bulgaria

Zoya Paunova

Country director, AstraZeneca Bulgaria, honorary general consul of Sweden, Bulgaria

Zoya Paunova has a master's degree in pharmacy and has attended business education courses in Yale, INSEAD, specialized programs in Britain, Sweden and the USA.

She has more than 20 years experience in pharmacy. Starting her career as manager of the tablet production department in Pharmacia Dupnitza, then as area import manager in Pharmachim.

She joined ICI in 1992 and she was appointed country director of AstraZeneca Bulgaria after the merger of Swedish Astra and British Zeneca in 2000.

Zoya Paunova is a deputy chairman of ARpharM and the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, an honorary consul of Sweden in Bulgaria, board member of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria, member of the Experts Council of Teach for Bulgaria.

Iliyana Tsanova

Iliyana Tsanova

Iliyana Tsanova is deputy managing director of the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) – a EUR 33 billion guarantee facility launched jointly by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank Group.

Prior to joining EFSI, Ms Tsanova had over 12 years of development banking experience with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), London, UK. Ms Tsanova held a number of non-executive board positions with infrastructure funds and utility companies.

In 2013 and 2014, Ms Tsanova was appointed deputy prime minister and minister in charge of the management of the European structural and investments funds in two separate caretaker governments of Bulgaria.
In 2015 she was named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Switzerland.

Ms Tsanova’s academic background is in corporate and business finance. She holds an MSc in finance from University for National and World Economy – Sofia, Bulgaria, and has postgraduate studies in financial management as visiting scholar at Georgetown University – Washington DC, USA.

Marcel van der Hoek

Country managing director, ABB Bulgaria

Marcel van der Hoek

Country managing director, ABB Bulgaria

Marcel van der Hoek has been country managing director (CMD) of ABB Bulgaria, since January 2018.

He joined the company in 1994, and during the years he took various managerial positions around the world, including Bulgaria between 2005 and 2011, when he was in charge for the Petrich Production unit and the Low Voltage business in the country. Before his return in Bulgaria, Marcel was CMD for ABB in Slovakia, where he delivered a solid business growth, thanks to the competitive solutions for customers in the industry, utilities, and buildings automation segments.

As country managing director for Bulgaria, Marcel works closely with ABB customers across various businesses, develops the digital services portfolio of ABB in the country and manages a company with four production units, service station for turbochargers and over 2800 employees in Bulgaria.

Stefan Vodenicharov

Co-chairman, Bulgarian Defense Industry Association

Stefan Vodenicharov

Co-chairman, Bulgarian Defense Industry Association

Academician Stefan Vodenicharov has been co-chairman of the Bulgarian Defence Industry Association since 2004 and at this moment is a president of the National Economic Council of the Bulgarian Industrial Chamber.

Since 2007 to 2012 he was director of the Institute of Metal Science, Equipment and Technology “Acad. Angel Balevski” with Hydro- and Aerodynamics Centre and in the period of 2012 to 2016 was president of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Trough 2013 he was elected as minister of Ministry of Education and Science.

Author of 71 patents in the field of materials testing and defense technologies, most of them introduced in the practice and is participating in numerous international professional organizations and editorial boards of scientific journals.

Ekaterina Zaharieva

May 4th 2017: Elected by the 44th National Assembly for deputy prime minister for judicial reform and minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria in the third government of prime minister Boyko Borissov

March 26th 2017: Elected member of parliament from political party GERB in 13th Multi-member Constituency – Pazardjik.

December 18th 2015 - January 27th 2017: Minster of justice in the second government of prime minister Boyko Borissov
March 13th-May 29th 2013 and August 6th-November 7th 2014: Deputy prime minister and minister of regional development and public works in the first and second caretaker government of president Rossen Plevneliev.

2013-15: Chief of staff to the president of the Republic of Bulgaria.
2012-13: General secretary of the administration of president Rossen Plevneliev
2009-13: Deputy minister of regional development and public works in the first government of prime minister Boyko Borissov.
2003-09: Legal adviser and director of the legal directorate in the Ministry of Environment and Waters
2001-03: Attorney-at-law practice

Specialized at the National School of Administration (ENA) in Paris, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) of the Council of Europe, the Institute of Public Administration in Dublin, Ireland. Master’s degree in law from University of Plovp "Paisii Hilendarski". Graduated from “Bertholt Brecht” foreign language school in Pazardjik, Bulgaria.

Married. Fluent in German and English. Awarded Honour Badge of the Union of Bulgarian Jurists. Awarded Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Atanas Zapryanov

Deputy minister of defence, Bulgaria

Atanas Zapryanov

Deputy minister of defence, Bulgaria

Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov (Ret.) was born on 16 April 1950 in the village of Dragoynovo, Plovdiv District.

In 1965, he graduated from the specialized high school in mechanical engineering in the town of Plovdiv. In 1974, Atanas Zapryanov graduated from Vassil Levski military school of higher education in Veliko Turnovo as diploma engineer, earning a master’s degree in the specialty Signal Troops. He was distinguished as the best graduate ranking first among the alumni of the year at the military school. In 1982, he earned a master’s degree in military science and warfare at Budyoni Military Academy of Communications, Saint Petersburg, Russia, from which he graduated, earning a gold medal for his high academic achievements and an excellent–grades diploma. He earned a master of science degree in strategic management of the armed forces at the General-Staff Faculty of the G. S. Rakovski National Defence Academy, from which he graduated in 1995.

In his academic and professional career as a military officer of the Bulgarian armed forces, in 2001 Atanas Zapryanov completed senior information manager course and a manager in information protection infrastructure course at the Information Resources Management College to the National Defense University, Washington, USA, where he was nominated as an alumnus of honor in the College’s Hall of Fame for high achievements earned during his military service. Atanas Zapryanov also completed the senior course at NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy.

In the course of his military career, Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov has held different command and staff positions in the Signal troops of the Bulgarian army: platoon commander, company commander, deputy battalion commander, chief of staff and deputy commander of 95th signal regiment of Second army in Plovdiv, department senior assistant to the department head at the Land Forces Command, department head, chief of staff, deputy director and director of Signal Troops Directorate to the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army (until 2002). As a senior military officer, he also held the positions: Commandant of G. S. Rakovski National Defence Academy, deputy chief of staff of the Bulgarian Army for resources until 2006, and a military representative of the chief of General Staff at NATO military committees and the European Union (until 2010).

After joining the military reserve, since 2010, he has been a counsellor to two political cabinets of the minister of defence (until 2013) and since 2015 until July 2016, deputy minister of defence since July 2016 until 30 January 2017.

Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov (Ret.) has been awarded multiple times for excellent military service and high professional results; he was awarded for Military Merit Order, First Degree.

Atanas Zapryanov speaks Russian and English.

He is married and has two children.

Ognian Zlatev

Head, European Commission Representation in Bulgaria

Ognian Zlatev

Head, European Commission Representation in Bulgaria

Ognian Zlatev is the head of the European Commission Representation in Sofia as from May 1st 2013.

He joined the European Commission as head of communications Unit of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion in December 2011.

He has over 25 years of professional experience in communication, media development and NGO management. His assignments took him to a number of transition societies and environments across the World (south-east Europe and western Balkans, southern Caucasus, central Asia, Middle East) where he worked as a consultant for international institutions (UNESCO, OSCE, The World Bank) and media (BBC).

Before joining the European Commission, Ognian Zlatev served as member of the managing board of the Bulgarian National Television (the Public Service broadcaster). Prior to that he founded and managed the Media Development Center in Bulgaria, which was established in 1998 to promote the development of independent media in Bulgaria, foster media capacity building and boost networking and cross-border cooperation in south-east Europe. He was director of the Information Centre for the Open Society Institute in Sofia, Manager of the BBC Centre in Bulgaria and exchange officer at the British Council office in Bulgaria.

Ognian Zlatev has been a member of the European Association of Communications Directors (EACD) since 2008.

Since October 2014 Ognian Zlatev has been president of the South East Europe Public Communication Association (SEECOM).

Ognian Zlatev

Ognian Zlatev

Ognian Zlatev is the head of the European Commission Representation in Sofia as from May 1st 2013.

He joined the European Commission as head of communications Unit of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion in December 2011.

He has over 25 years of professional experience in communication, media development and NGO management. His assignments took him to a number of transition societies and environments across the World (south-east Europe and western Balkans, southern Caucasus, central Asia, Middle East) where he worked as a consultant for international institutions (UNESCO, OSCE, The World Bank) and media (BBC).

Before joining the European Commission, Ognian Zlatev served as member of the managing board of the Bulgarian National Television (the Public Service broadcaster). Prior to that he founded and managed the Media Development Center in Bulgaria, which was established in 1998 to promote the development of independent media in Bulgaria, foster media capacity building and boost networking and cross-border cooperation in south-east Europe. He was director of the Information Centre for the Open Society Institute in Sofia, Manager of the BBC Centre in Bulgaria and exchange officer at the British Council office in Bulgaria.

Ognian Zlatev has been a member of the European Association of Communications Directors (EACD) since 2008.

Since October 2014 Ognian Zlatev has been president of the South East Europe Public Communication Association (SEECOM).

Renée Friedman

Managing editor, EMEA, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Renée Friedman

Managing editor, EMEA, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Renée Friedman is a managing editor for EMEA for the Economist Group. Her work focuses on Thought leadership programmes for the financial services sector.

Prior to joining the Economist Group, Renée worked in a variety of roles: in Economic and Political risk consulting, in finance in the City of London as an Economist, a Macro strategist and a Bond fund manager, in the international and UK policy spheres as an Economist to the Treasury Select Committee at the House of Commons and as Senior Economist and Chief Technical Advisor for the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, and as an academic, designing and teaching economics courses at universities across London.

Renée has spoken on a variety of panels and events focused on Russia, Ukraine and other emerging market economies as well as on developments in the financial services sector including those for The Economist Group, BNE Intellinews, IHS Global Insight, and for the UNDP. She has also appeared on CNBC.

Renée holds a PhD in Economics from London Business School, a Masters in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Birmingham (UK), and a Bachelors in International trade and development from the London School of Economics & Political Science.

Elżbieta Bieńkowska

Elżbieta Bieńkowska

Elżbieta Bieńkowska -since November 1st 2014- EU commissioner for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs in the European Commission of Jean-Claude Juncker.

Between 2007 and 2013 she was the minister for regional development of Poland and from 2013 to 2014, the deputy prime minister and the minister of regional development and infrastructure of

Poland. As deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure and development she was in charge of the strategic development system of the country, including the effective investment of the European funds. Her work resulted in the full absorption of the EU funds from the budget for 2004-06 and the successful distribution of almost EUR 68 billion granted to Poland for the years 2007-13. She was managing the process of the preparation of the efficient EU funds implementation system from the EU budget for the years 2014-20.

Apart from the European funds her tasks in the Polish Government included also the management of transport infrastructure (roads, railway, air traffic and ship transport) and issues related to

construction and housing. Before from 1999 to 2007 she was working for the local government of the Silesia Region in Southern Poland. A graduate of the Jagiellonian University. She also graduated from the Polish National School of Public Administration and completed the business administration post graduate studies at the Warsaw School of Economics.

Ekaterina Zaharieva

May 4th 2017: Elected by the 44th National Assembly for deputy prime minister for judicial reform and minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria in the third government of prime minister Boyko Borissov

March 26th 2017: Elected member of parliament from political party GERB in 13th Multi-member Constituency – Pazardjik.

December 18th 2015 - January 27th 2017: Minster of justice in the second government of prime minister Boyko Borissov
March 13th-May 29th 2013 and August 6th-November 7th 2014: Deputy prime minister and minister of regional development and public works in the first and second caretaker government of president Rossen Plevneliev.

2013-15: Chief of staff to the president of the Republic of Bulgaria.
2012-13: General secretary of the administration of president Rossen Plevneliev
2009-13: Deputy minister of regional development and public works in the first government of prime minister Boyko Borissov.
2003-09: Legal adviser and director of the legal directorate in the Ministry of Environment and Waters
2001-03: Attorney-at-law practice

Specialized at the National School of Administration (ENA) in Paris, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) of the Council of Europe, the Institute of Public Administration in Dublin, Ireland. Master’s degree in law from University of Plovp "Paisii Hilendarski". Graduated from “Bertholt Brecht” foreign language school in Pazardjik, Bulgaria.

Married. Fluent in German and English. Awarded Honour Badge of the Union of Bulgarian Jurists. Awarded Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Atanas Zapryanov

Deputy minister of defence, Bulgaria

Atanas Zapryanov

Deputy minister of defence, Bulgaria

Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov (Ret.) was born on 16 April 1950 in the village of Dragoynovo, Plovdiv District.

In 1965, he graduated from the specialized high school in mechanical engineering in the town of Plovdiv. In 1974, Atanas Zapryanov graduated from Vassil Levski military school of higher education in Veliko Turnovo as diploma engineer, earning a master’s degree in the specialty Signal Troops. He was distinguished as the best graduate ranking first among the alumni of the year at the military school. In 1982, he earned a master’s degree in military science and warfare at Budyoni Military Academy of Communications, Saint Petersburg, Russia, from which he graduated, earning a gold medal for his high academic achievements and an excellent–grades diploma. He earned a master of science degree in strategic management of the armed forces at the General-Staff Faculty of the G. S. Rakovski National Defence Academy, from which he graduated in 1995.

In his academic and professional career as a military officer of the Bulgarian armed forces, in 2001 Atanas Zapryanov completed senior information manager course and a manager in information protection infrastructure course at the Information Resources Management College to the National Defense University, Washington, USA, where he was nominated as an alumnus of honor in the College’s Hall of Fame for high achievements earned during his military service. Atanas Zapryanov also completed the senior course at NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy.

In the course of his military career, Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov has held different command and staff positions in the Signal troops of the Bulgarian army: platoon commander, company commander, deputy battalion commander, chief of staff and deputy commander of 95th signal regiment of Second army in Plovdiv, department senior assistant to the department head at the Land Forces Command, department head, chief of staff, deputy director and director of Signal Troops Directorate to the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army (until 2002). As a senior military officer, he also held the positions: Commandant of G. S. Rakovski National Defence Academy, deputy chief of staff of the Bulgarian Army for resources until 2006, and a military representative of the chief of General Staff at NATO military committees and the European Union (until 2010).

After joining the military reserve, since 2010, he has been a counsellor to two political cabinets of the minister of defence (until 2013) and since 2015 until July 2016, deputy minister of defence since July 2016 until 30 January 2017.

Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov (Ret.) has been awarded multiple times for excellent military service and high professional results; he was awarded for Military Merit Order, First Degree.

Atanas Zapryanov speaks Russian and English.

He is married and has two children.

10:10 AM

Discussion

10:30 AM

Coffee break

11:00 AM

SEEKING SECURITY COHERENCE FOR EUROPE

▪ Military capabilities within the context of the current defence related initiatives (PESCO, EDIDP, EDF)

Mikhail Kostarakos

Former chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff & former chairman of the EU Military Committee (CEUMC)

Mikhail Kostarakos

Former chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff & former chairman of the EU Military Committee (CEUMC)

General Mikhail Kostarakos is the permanent chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC).

He has been selected by the Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) of the 28 EU Member States and appointed to the post by the council. He entered his office on 6 November 2015 taking over from Gen. Patrick de Rousiers.

General Kostarakos leads the works of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) and liaises with the presidency in the development and implementation of its work programme.

He is the military adviser to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on all military matters and represents the primary point of contact with the operation commanders of the EU's military operations.

General Kostarakos is the spokesman and representative of the EU Military Committee at the meetings of the Political Security Committee (PSC). He also attends the meetings of the Council when decisions with defence implications are to be taken.

Emil Eftimov

Deputy chief of defence, Ministry of Defence, Bulgaria

Emil Eftimov

Deputy chief of defence, Ministry of Defence, Bulgaria

Vice-admiral Emil Eftimov was born in Varna, on August 16th 1961. He studied in “Nikola Vaptsarov” Naval Academy from 1979 to 1984 at the end of which he was promoted second lieutenant. As a lieutenant commander VADM Eftimov graduated from “N.G.Kuznetsov” Naval Academy, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation (1992-94) and in 2004-05 he completed leadership training in US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. In 2012 he also graduated from the Senior Officers Course, NATO School Oberammergau, Germany and the Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course, NATO Defense College, Italy.

During his career VADM Eftimov has gone through different operational and staff duty tours, starting as a navigation officer and eventually becoming frigate commanding officer (1991-92). After graduating the Naval Academy of the Russian Federation he assumed consecutively the positions of anti-submarine officer in Patrol Ships Squadron, chief of staff of 1st Patrol Ships Squadron, Varna Naval Base and deputy chief of staff and chief of operational and combat training section, Varna Naval Base (2000-01). While commanding the 1st Patrol Ships Squadron, Varna Naval Base (2001-03), VADM Eftimov was assigned chief of staff of the BLACKSEAFOR (2002) and in 2003 he became deputy commander of Varna Naval Base for one year during which he was responsible for force training. Following VADM Eftimov’s assignment as primary adviser to the chief of naval operations (Navy HQ) on regional military cooperation (2005-06) he assumed the duties of chief of staff, Varna Naval Base (2006-09) and commander of Varna Naval Base (2009-11). Before being promoted vice-admiral (in May 2016) and becoming deputy chief of defence (in July 2016) VADM Eftimov added more NATO leadership experience to his professional background as assistant director, cooperation and regional security division, International Military Staff, NATO HQ, Brussels, Belgium (2011-13) and then as director of the same IMS division (2013-16).

Vice Admiral Eftimov has been awarded with various national awards and decorations among which the Ministry of Defence Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service under the Colours and “St. George the Victor” Medal of Honour in recognition of his distinguished service and professional achievements.

Vice Admiral Eftimov is fluent in English and Russian. He is married to Ginka and they have two children.

11:15 AM

Discussion

11:30 AM

INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY

▪ The defence and security sector and its impact on the economy
▪ The business perspective
▪ Innovation, research and development in the defence industry

Stefan Vodenicharov

Co-chairman, Bulgarian Defense Industry Association

Stefan Vodenicharov

Co-chairman, Bulgarian Defense Industry Association

Academician Stefan Vodenicharov has been co-chairman of the Bulgarian Defence Industry Association since 2004 and at this moment is a president of the National Economic Council of the Bulgarian Industrial Chamber.

Since 2007 to 2012 he was director of the Institute of Metal Science, Equipment and Technology “Acad. Angel Balevski” with Hydro- and Aerodynamics Centre and in the period of 2012 to 2016 was president of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Trough 2013 he was elected as minister of Ministry of Education and Science.

Author of 71 patents in the field of materials testing and defense technologies, most of them introduced in the practice and is participating in numerous international professional organizations and editorial boards of scientific journals.

Håkan Buskhe

President and CEO, SAAB AB

Håkan Buskhe

President and CEO, SAAB AB

Håkan Buskhe is the president and CEO of the Swedish defence and security company Saab AB. Mr Buskhe took up his position in 2010. Mr Buskhe brings to Saab more than 20 years of experience in programme and operations management and business development from national and international commercial industries. Most recently, he served as the president and CEO of E.ON Nordic AB and E.ON Sverige AB.

Before entering into the energy business, Mr Buskhe had a long experience of the fast moving Transport and Logistics Business. Among other things, Mr Buskhe was responsible for Schenker in Europe. Several years as Head of Production at the Falcon Brewery made him an expert in beer.

Since 2015, he has been member of the board of Nefab, a provider of packaging solutions. During 2017, he became vice-chairman of the board of ASD - AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe. Previously, he was member of the Board of Vattenfall and chairman of the board of the transportation company Green Cargo AB, and also served as chairman of the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant.

As a result of his military service as armament technician, he gained experience of different armament systems today related to Saab (Bofors, AA40/48, RBS70 etc).

Mr Buskhe holds a Master of Science from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg and graduated as Licentiate of Transportation and Logistics.

Mr Håkan Buskhe was born in 1963 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. He currently resides in Stockholm and Falkenberg, Sweden. He is married and has three daughters.

Iliyana Tsanova

Iliyana Tsanova

Iliyana Tsanova is deputy managing director of the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) – a EUR 33 billion guarantee facility launched jointly by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank Group.

Prior to joining EFSI, Ms Tsanova had over 12 years of development banking experience with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), London, UK. Ms Tsanova held a number of non-executive board positions with infrastructure funds and utility companies.

In 2013 and 2014, Ms Tsanova was appointed deputy prime minister and minister in charge of the management of the European structural and investments funds in two separate caretaker governments of Bulgaria.
In 2015 she was named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Switzerland.

Ms Tsanova’s academic background is in corporate and business finance. She holds an MSc in finance from University for National and World Economy – Sofia, Bulgaria, and has postgraduate studies in financial management as visiting scholar at Georgetown University – Washington DC, USA.

Olli Isotalo

President and CEO, Patria Oyj

Olli Isotalo

President and CEO, Patria Oyj

Olli Isotalo is president and CEO of Patria Oyj, since 2016. His experience in managing large multinational companies is well known. Since 2006, he has been member of the Cargotec’s executive board for about 10 years.

He has been president of many leading technology companies, like the industry forerunner in port automation and energy-efficient cargo handling Kalmar (part of Cargotec), one of the leading companies in engineering innovations MacGregor, as well as the major supplier of crane spreaders Bromma among others.

In the course of his professional career Olli Isotalo has been acting in key positions. He has been chairman of the board of Nammo AS, Millog Oy, chairman of the Association of the Finnish Defence and Aero Space Industries, as well as member of the board of the Technology Industries of Finland.

Olli Isotalo has graduated the Tempera University of Technology as M.Sc. in engineering.

Andrea Nappi

Vice-president, Eurofighter Export Fighters, Italy

Andrea Nappi

Vice-president, Eurofighter Export Fighters, Italy

Born in Rimini (Italy) in 1958, Andrea Nappi graduated in chemical engineering from Politecnico di Torino in 1981 and obtained an MASc degree from the University of Waterloo (Canada) in 1983. Since 1985 he has been employed in the Leonardo Aircraft Division, formerly Aeritalia and Alenia Aermacchi, in the engineering department with responsibilities in aerodynamic design, low observable technologies and chief engineering role in the Harrier AV-8B programme and eventually the Eurofighter Typhoon.

In 1998 he joined the Eurofighter GmbH Agency in Munich (Germany) as deputy technical director with technical responsibility of the Typhoon programme. In 2002 he returned to Alenia Aermacchi as commercial manager for the Military Aircraft Department with responsibilities on Typhoon, Tornado and AM-X. Eventually he was nominated commercial and programme director for these products and was also responsible for the marketing activities related to the Eurofighter Typhoon.

In 2013 Andrea Nappi returned to Eurofighter GmbH as technical director with responsibility on design, production and logistic support. Since 2016 he has been covering the position of the vice-president of Eurofighter Export within the Leonardo Aircraft Division organization. In his current role Andrea Nappi is responsible for all the export campaigns of Leonardo responsibility, namely Bulgaria, Poland and Egypt, and for the support activities to the other programme partner companies (BAES and Airbus) for the export campaigns of their responsibility.

Marcel van der Hoek

Country managing director, ABB Bulgaria

Marcel van der Hoek

Country managing director, ABB Bulgaria

Marcel van der Hoek has been country managing director (CMD) of ABB Bulgaria, since January 2018.

He joined the company in 1994, and during the years he took various managerial positions around the world, including Bulgaria between 2005 and 2011, when he was in charge for the Petrich Production unit and the Low Voltage business in the country. Before his return in Bulgaria, Marcel was CMD for ABB in Slovakia, where he delivered a solid business growth, thanks to the competitive solutions for customers in the industry, utilities, and buildings automation segments.

As country managing director for Bulgaria, Marcel works closely with ABB customers across various businesses, develops the digital services portfolio of ABB in the country and manages a company with four production units, service station for turbochargers and over 2800 employees in Bulgaria.

Zoya Paunova

Country director, AstraZeneca Bulgaria, honorary general consul of Sweden, Bulgaria

Zoya Paunova

Country director, AstraZeneca Bulgaria, honorary general consul of Sweden, Bulgaria

Zoya Paunova has a master's degree in pharmacy and has attended business education courses in Yale, INSEAD, specialized programs in Britain, Sweden and the USA.

She has more than 20 years experience in pharmacy. Starting her career as manager of the tablet production department in Pharmacia Dupnitza, then as area import manager in Pharmachim.

She joined ICI in 1992 and she was appointed country director of AstraZeneca Bulgaria after the merger of Swedish Astra and British Zeneca in 2000.

Zoya Paunova is a deputy chairman of ARpharM and the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, an honorary consul of Sweden in Bulgaria, board member of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria, member of the Experts Council of Teach for Bulgaria.

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